capngrog Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Although I own a 1947 Crosley Sedan and a 1950 Crosley Station Wagon, I'm not at all familiar with the Hot Shot/ Super Sport models. I'm in negotiation to purchase a 1951 Crosley Hot Shot that seems to have steering problems. The wheels turn fully to the right, but only about half way to the left. When turned to the left, the steering stops, but can be forced further before it encounters a positive stop. I haven't had a chance to trouble shoot this yet, but wonder if anyone else had encountered a similar problem. The car has been sitting for several years, and the owner's grandchildren have played in it. I'm wondering if the steering box may be the problem here.The Hot Shot steering is different from that on my sedan and station wagon. On those, the steering box is in front of the axle with the tie rod behind the axle. The Hot Shot that I looked at is just the opposite: the steering box is behind the axle, and the tie rod is in front of the axle.Due to my limited knowledge, I've looked for drawings or diagrams of the Crosley Hot Shot steering so that I can at least check to make sure the configuration is correct, but so far, I've not been able to find any drawings or diagrams of the steering. Can someone "steer" me in the right direction to find more information on the Crosley Hot Shot steering arrangement.I need all the help I can get,Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleek Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 You might also post this in the Crosley forum near the bottom of the forum lists. Lots more people with knowledge of your type of car there. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 This looks like a good place to go. http://crosleyautoclub.com/ Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Here is a Yahoo Group... https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Crosley/info I'm sure some one can help you. If not, find a good old time mechanic in your area. Most of these problems are solved with some common sense and mechanical understanding. If you were close to me, I would even come and look at it for you. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 It might be as simple as the pitman arm is installed incorrectly. Try removing it and centering the steering box and wheels and see if the arm will go back on in that position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 It might be as simple as the pitman arm is installed incorrectly. Try removing it and centering the steering box and wheels and see if the arm will go back on in that position.That was what I was thinking, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 You might also post this in the Crosley forum near the bottom of the forum lists. Lots more people with knowledge of your type of car there. Good luck.Fleek;Thanks for the tip. I wasn't aware that there was a separate Crosley forum, and, unfortunately, it appears that most folks are unaware of the Crosley Forum. The last Crosley-related (this forum also is home to Whizzer and Cushman fans) post was November 25, 2014. It looks as though my concerns will be addressed by more guys on this "General Discussion" thread; however, I will post my questions on the Crosley forum.Cheers,Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 Here is a Yahoo Group... https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Crosley/info I'm sure some one can help you. If not, find a good old time mechanic in your area. Most of these problems are solved with some common sense and mechanical understanding. If you were close to me, I would even come and look at it for you. Dandy Dave!Dandy Dave,Thanks for your reply. I've been a member of the Crosley Auto Club for a number of years and have posted my questions on their discussion site. I agree with your comments on mechanical problem solving; however, I'm not yet the owner of the car, and the seller is not willing to let me tear into it to diagnose obvious problems (can't say that I blame him).The Pitman arm is splined onto the steering box output shaft, so it is possible that it isn't centered properly, but per the above paragraph, I don't have the authority to work on the car.Besides my concern over the steering, is the question of the brakes. The front brakes are disc units from either a Toyota or a Datsun (I think), the rear brakes are from a Vega of unknown vintage, and the master cylinder is stock 1951 Crosley. I sense a mismatch here, but due to my relatively limited knowledge/ability I don't know for sure. Oh, did I mention that the left front brake drags badly? On top of this, the steering gear (drag link, tie rod etc.) is of incorrect vintage for this car.The car isn't running, so I'm unable to road test it.None of the above problems would bother me if the car was completely stock; however, I don't know if the noted modifications are easily reversible or not. If the front and rear axles haven't been modified, I could just install stock Crosley parts. Well, there we go ... parts for the Crosley Hot Shot are difficult to find and are EXPEN$IVE.From the standpoint of logic, I'm starting to cool on this deal. The problem is that I like the car (at this point in time).Still ditherin' over this deal,Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 It might be as simple as the pitman arm is installed incorrectly. Try removing it and centering the steering box and wheels and see if the arm will go back on in that position.Roger and keiser,I agree. See my post above. Thanks for your input,Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan at larescorp Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) Disconnect the pitman arm from the center link, then turn the steering wheel from lock to lock. If the problem is in the gear it will continue to happen if its connected to the front end or not. If the problem goes away you know your looking at king pin / tie rod end issues.Also, as for the pitman arm being installed incorrectly, I believe the sector shaft has 4 wide splines on that gear. If so the pitman arm can go on one of 4 ways. Edited February 4, 2015 by dan@larescorp (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Crosley steering sector shaft does not have any wide splines, pitman are can go on anywhere. It is a Ross steering box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bollman Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 If the axle haven't been modified, any Crosley disc or 9" Bendix drum units will bolt on, they are not unique to the Hot Shot. Still a little hard to find but not impossible if the deal is good enough. On a 1950 Hotshot either could be correct depending on the serial number and AACA doesn't check serial numbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 CapnGrog, Point taken. I would think he would at least let you put it up on a lift, or Jack it up to get a closer look. Guess I would go slow with the deal myself. Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capngrog Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share Posted February 6, 2015 Dandy Dave,The seller did put the car up on a lift for me; that's how I found out about the steering and brake problems. Although the seller is a good guy and far more knowledgeable about Crosleys than I am, I have opted to pass on the opportunity to acquire this Hot Shot.I want to thank everyone for their responses and help on this question. Your input helped me to make up (what's left of) my mind on this deal.Thanks,Grog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Ey ey Captain. :cool: Dandy Dave! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Another thought, and maybe even simpler.Some years ago on a Glidden Tour, a '27 Chevy owner experienced a similar problem just after arriving and backing his car off of his trailer. Naturally a substantial group with vast technical expertise gathered and offered advice.I put the front frame on jackstands, crawled under, and had the owner turn the steering wheel left and right. The long rod connecting the steering box to the tie-rod had become bent, either from road damage, or possibly by incorrectly having the car tied down. The rod was hitting against the frame of the car, limiting the amount the wheel could be turned. Careful straightening remedied the problem well enough so that the car could be driven on the tour. I suspect that the car was tied down with a strap or chain around the chassis, and that the strap accidentally accidentally went around the steering linkage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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